Tool for manual manipulation of devices for application to and removal from high voltage conductors

ABSTRACT

A tubular insulating housing has an insulating rod manually movable endwise thereof for engagement with the apertured support bracket of a high voltage electrical measuring device to draw it into one end of the housing for conjoint movement therewith and manual manipulation to and from a high voltage conductor.

United States Patent Schweitzer, Jr.

[ TOOL FOR MANUAL MANIPULATION OF DEVICES FOR APPLICATION TO AND REMOVAL FROM HIGH VOLTAGE CONDUCTORS Edmund O. Schweitzer, Jr., 1002 Dundee Rd., Northbrook, 111. 60062 Filed: Mar. 25, 1974 Appl. No.1 454,474

Inventor:

US. Cl. 294/19 R, 81/53.1 Int. Cl B25b 27/00 Field of Search 294/19 R, 23, 26, 34, 100, 294/103, 115; 29/203 R, 203 H, 203 HM; 81/3.8, 53.1; 119/151,152

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1929 Studwell 294/19 R Primary Examiner-Evon C. Blunk Assistant Examiner-Johnny D. Cherry Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Robert R. Lockwood [57] ABSTRACT A tubular insulating housing has an insulating rod manually movable endwise thereof for engagement with the apertured support bracket of a high voltage electrical measuring device to draw it into one end of the housing for conjoint movement therewith and manual manipulation to and from a high voltage conductor.

5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures vice into and out of operative position with respect to a high voltage conductor in a new and improved manner; to provide a light weight tool that can be used with safety for this purpose; to endwise slidably mount an operating rod within a tubular housing for detachably engaging the apertures support bracket of the device and drawing it into one end of the housing thereby rendering the device unitarily manually movable with the housing; to form the housing of transparent material; and to provide a safety sleeve intermediate the ends of the housing beyond which the housing should not be manually grasped.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a view, in side elevation, of a live line tool embodying this invention.

FIG. 2 is a view, in front elevation, of the tool shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view, at an enlarged scale, of the tool shown in FIG. 2 in engagement with a current responsive device.

FIG. 4 is a view, similar to FIG. 3, showing the support bracket of the current responsive device drawn into one end of the tubular housing for manual uniting movement therewith.

FIG. 5 is a horizontal cross section taken generally along line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a view, in side elevation, of the insulating rod that is movable endwise of the housing showing how itis bowed for frictional engagement with the inner surface of the housing and by broken lines its position within the housing.

Referring to FIGS. l-4 of the drawing, reference character 10 designates, generally, a live line tool embodying this invention. It is arranged to receive for manipulation a current responsive device, shown generally at 11, of the kind and character disclosed in the above patent. The current responsive device 11 includes a support bracket 12 having a reduced end section 13 that is provided with an aperture 14.

The aperture 14 is arranged to receive a finger 15 at the outer end of an insulating operating rod, shown generally at 16 and preferably formed of nylon, which is slidable endwise within a tubular insulating housing, shown generally at 17 and preferably formed of trans- 16 has an offset bowed section 21 intermediate its ends that is arranged to frictionally engage the inner surface 22 of the housing 17. When stressed within the housing 17 the bowed section 21 occupies the position indiparent polycarbonate. As illustrated, the upper end of cated at 23 by broken lines. This frictional engagement holds the operating rod '16 in any position to which it may be moved manually within the housing 17.

The inner end of the operating rod 16 has a handle 24 that extends through a slot 25, FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, near the lower end 26 of the housing 17. The handle 24 extends from the operating rod 16 in a direction opposite to that in which the finger 15 extends. An insulating sleeve 27 is secured to the handle 24 to facilitate it being grasped by a lineman and to prevent it from being moved inwardly of the slot 25.

Reinforcing insulating collars 30 and 31 are suitably secured to the ends of the housing 17. A safety insulating collar 32, preferably red in color, is suitably secured to the housing 17 a distance from its lower end to indicate to the lineman that he should grasp the housing 17 below the collar 32 for reasons of safety.

In operation, the lineman grasps the housing 17 below the safety collar 32, engages the sleeve 27 on the handle 24, andshifts the operating rod 16 to the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. He then inserts the finger 15 into the aperture 14, FIG. 3, and moves the operating rod 16 relatively into the housing 17 together with the reduced end section 13 of the support bracket 12, FIG. 4. Meanwhile the handle 24 is shifted relatively from the upper end to the lower end of the slot 25. In this position the current responsive device 11 is movable unitarily with the live line tool 10 and thereby can be applied to or removed from a high voltage conductor as will be readily understood.

Iclaim:

l. A tool for applying and removing an electrical measuring device having an apertured support bracket to and from a high voltage electrical conductor com- I prising, in combination, a tubular insulating housing I having a lengthwise extending slot near one end, and an insulated operating rod movable endwise within said housing and out of the other end thereof; said operating rod at its inner end having a handle extending through.

and slidable in'said slot for manual manipulation of said operating rod, and said operating rod at its outer end having a finger for entering the aperture in said support bracket to draw the same into said other end of said housing on movement of said handle toward the one end of said slot adjacent said one end of said housing, said operating rod being bowed intermediate its ends to provide frictional resistance between it and the inner surface of said housing torelative longitudinal movement thereof.

2. A tool according to claim 1 wherein said handle and said finger extend in opposite directions from the longitudinal axis of said operating rod.

3. A tool according to claim I wherein saidhousing is formed of transparent material.

4. A tool according to claim 1 wherein said housing is formed of polycarbonate and said rod is formed of nylon.

5. A tool according to claim 1 wherein said'housing has insulating reinforcing rings at its ends and a safety ring adjacent the other end of said slot.

- II i I i 

1. A tool for applying and removing an electrical measuring device having an apertured support bracket to and from a high voltage electrical conductor comprising, in combination, a tubular insulating housing having a lengthwise extending slot near one end, and an insulated operating rod movable endwise within said housing and out of the other end thereof; said operating rod at its inner end having a handle extending through and slidable in said slot for manual manipulation of said operating rod, and said operating rod at its outer end having a finger for entering the aperture in said support bracket to draw the same into said other end of said housing on movement of said handle toward the one end of said slot adjacent said one end of said housing, said operating rod being bowed intermediate its ends to provide frictional resistance between it and the inner surface of said housing to relative longitudinal movement thereof.
 2. A tool according to claim 1 wherein said handle and said finger extend in opposite directions from the longitudinal axis of said operating rod.
 3. A tool according to claim 1 wherein said housing is formed of transparent material.
 4. A tool according to claim 1 wherein said housing is formed of polycarbonate and said rod is formed of nylon.
 5. A tool according to claim 1 wherein said housing has insulating reinforcing rings at its ends and a safety ring adjacent the other end of said slot. 